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The Hiding Place
They’re good people. Why shouldn’t they get what they deserve?
When Lou sees an ad for a long-abandoned mining town up for sale, it doesn’t take her long to convince her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property buried in the bush – a place where the four families can hide away on weekends, get back to nature and unstick the kids from their screens.
But things start to go wrong before they even arrive for their first camping trip – a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line and squatters have set up camp down by the river. Soon none of that will matter, though, because by the end of the first night someone will be dead.
At first it seems that hiding a body is easier than keeping other sorts of a lost job, an illegal crop, an outrageous affair, a little embezzlement. But what’s buried has a way of coming to the surface, and even in the bush, it’s hard to remain unseen.
White Lotus meets The Slap in a razor-sharp literary thriller about deception and self-deception, and how far people will go to protect what they feel they ought to have.
‘Absolutely brilliant. I wish I had written this book.’ Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town
When Lou sees an ad for a long-abandoned mining town up for sale, it doesn’t take her long to convince her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property buried in the bush – a place where the four families can hide away on weekends, get back to nature and unstick the kids from their screens.
But things start to go wrong before they even arrive for their first camping trip – a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line and squatters have set up camp down by the river. Soon none of that will matter, though, because by the end of the first night someone will be dead.
At first it seems that hiding a body is easier than keeping other sorts of a lost job, an illegal crop, an outrageous affair, a little embezzlement. But what’s buried has a way of coming to the surface, and even in the bush, it’s hard to remain unseen.
White Lotus meets The Slap in a razor-sharp literary thriller about deception and self-deception, and how far people will go to protect what they feel they ought to have.
‘Absolutely brilliant. I wish I had written this book.’ Hayley Scrivenor, author of Dirt Town
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Published October 27, 2025
146 people are currently reading
1248 people want to read
About the author
Kate Mildenhall
5 books206 followersKate Mildenhall is the author of Skylarking (2016) The Mother Fault (2020) and The Hummingbird Effect ((2023). She lives in Hurstbridge on Wurundjeri lands, with her partner and two children.
Skylarking was longlisted for Debut Fiction in The Indie Book Awards 2017, and the 2017 Voss Literary Award. The Mother Fault was longlisted for the 2021 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Science Fiction Novel of the Year. The Hummingbird Effect is due for release August 2nd 2023.
With friend and author Katherine Collette, Kate co-hosts The First Time Podcast – conversations with Australian writers – a podcast now in its sixth season.
Kate is currently undertaking her PhD in creative writing at RMIT. She can be found on Instagram at @kmildenhall and Twitter @katemildenhall.
Skylarking was longlisted for Debut Fiction in The Indie Book Awards 2017, and the 2017 Voss Literary Award. The Mother Fault was longlisted for the 2021 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2021 Aurealis Science Fiction Novel of the Year. The Hummingbird Effect is due for release August 2nd 2023.
With friend and author Katherine Collette, Kate co-hosts The First Time Podcast – conversations with Australian writers – a podcast now in its sixth season.
Kate is currently undertaking her PhD in creative writing at RMIT. She can be found on Instagram at @kmildenhall and Twitter @katemildenhall.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
November 17, 2025
'Here they all are, compromising on the things they hold dearest...They are such clichés, they lot of them.'
Willow Creek, where the river lazily meanders through what will surely be their slice of paradise. Lou, Ness, their mother, and a group of college friends have all stretched their finances to buy into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create their own utopia. Their kids can run around and be kids, they can all take time out of their busy city lives and centre themselves in the earth of this age old land. Of course there'll be rules, but as long as they live by integrity and honesty, everyone will be happy. It soon becomes very apparent though that despite their modern, PC ideals, they aren't being completely honest - with themselves and with each other. Desperate to maintain the facade, despite the cracks that begin to appear by the end of their weekend away, they continue to manipulate the situation until it all detonates. Now there's no going back. 'All lies are the same. That's how we go into this mess...People are too scared to speak the truth...'.
The Hiding Place is filled with characters and a lot of drama. The many POVs can be tricky initially, but you soon get engrossed with their issues. Although I enjoyed the climactic ending, the fallout from the explosion seemed to dissipate so rapidly that I ultimately felt a little dissatisfied with the end. Potentially more literary fiction than thriller (although there is an eeriness and mystery within), overall, I found this story a very readable page turner.
'There's always a third act. The one we never saw coming. Coming to blindside us. Disarm us. Ruin us, perhaps'.
Willow Creek, where the river lazily meanders through what will surely be their slice of paradise. Lou, Ness, their mother, and a group of college friends have all stretched their finances to buy into this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create their own utopia. Their kids can run around and be kids, they can all take time out of their busy city lives and centre themselves in the earth of this age old land. Of course there'll be rules, but as long as they live by integrity and honesty, everyone will be happy. It soon becomes very apparent though that despite their modern, PC ideals, they aren't being completely honest - with themselves and with each other. Desperate to maintain the facade, despite the cracks that begin to appear by the end of their weekend away, they continue to manipulate the situation until it all detonates. Now there's no going back. 'All lies are the same. That's how we go into this mess...People are too scared to speak the truth...'.
The Hiding Place is filled with characters and a lot of drama. The many POVs can be tricky initially, but you soon get engrossed with their issues. Although I enjoyed the climactic ending, the fallout from the explosion seemed to dissipate so rapidly that I ultimately felt a little dissatisfied with the end. Potentially more literary fiction than thriller (although there is an eeriness and mystery within), overall, I found this story a very readable page turner.
'There's always a third act. The one we never saw coming. Coming to blindside us. Disarm us. Ruin us, perhaps'.
November 22, 2025
What a bunch of awful people!! Five families, friends forever, but keeping such dark secrets from each other. They all put in together to buy an abandoned mining town in the bush, what could go wrong. Their first trip to get the lay of the land gets off to a bumpy start with a collision with a deer. Things don’t get much better when they discover squatters on the land and they have a run in with a neighbour over the property lines.
This a dark literary thriller that is quite hard to put down. These so called friends are hiding some truly awful things from each other, and their kids are running wild on the land. A very entertaining story.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for the surprise book-mail, and the matching mug.
This a dark literary thriller that is quite hard to put down. These so called friends are hiding some truly awful things from each other, and their kids are running wild on the land. A very entertaining story.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Australia for the surprise book-mail, and the matching mug.
November 17, 2025
Unfortunately this book took me longer than expected to read due to life curveballs and an unexpected fluey thing that left me exhausted. Despite all that I just struggled to get into this story from the beginning. I found there were too many characters (I kept getting Ness and Flick mixed up) and I honestly didn’t like any of them! I hate secrets and cheating and lying. I was angry at the whole situation the entire way through and at how entitled they all were.
It could have been a great Aussie Noir crime story focusing on the little girl and fleshing out Jacob a bit more to cover that story. A missed opportunity I feel with new people coming into the area, meeting the campers, meeting the neighbours, hearing local tales etc Instead it is filled with so many irrelevant dramas, too many POVs and not much character development at all.
It could have been a great Aussie Noir crime story focusing on the little girl and fleshing out Jacob a bit more to cover that story. A missed opportunity I feel with new people coming into the area, meeting the campers, meeting the neighbours, hearing local tales etc Instead it is filled with so many irrelevant dramas, too many POVs and not much character development at all.
September 17, 2025
A group of old friends have bought a property in the bush together. They each have big plans for the place, but no consensus on what they should do. To celebrate their new home away from home, these city dwellers camp out on the site - wives, husbands, (secret lovers), kids, sisters, mothers - all very different people, all with different agendas, bound by familiarity and love.
Until they’re not.
It seems clear that Mildenhall took great delight in writing this gripping, satiric, and disturbing thriller. Her characters spring to life with details that only a friend could know.
Dangerous ground for an author, but delicious fun for us.
Until they’re not.
It seems clear that Mildenhall took great delight in writing this gripping, satiric, and disturbing thriller. Her characters spring to life with details that only a friend could know.
Dangerous ground for an author, but delicious fun for us.
November 18, 2025
This book was a ride, and I had to take a minute to think about it before reviewing, because I truly didn't know how to feel.
Usually when reading, you want to find someone to relate to and like. This was not the book for that because as you read and find out more about each character, you slowly find yourself disliking them more and more, and the author did a fantastic job of that!
The plot kept me interested and I didn't know where it would end up until the last second, which is pretty much a bonus.
Where this fell a bit flat for me was that I didn't feel like I got to know each character enough. I wasn't as invested as I would've liked to be and it was very easy to mix characters up, especially at the start.
Overall, if you're looking for a lit-fic type of thriller, this may be your jam!
➛ 𝟑 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
Usually when reading, you want to find someone to relate to and like. This was not the book for that because as you read and find out more about each character, you slowly find yourself disliking them more and more, and the author did a fantastic job of that!
The plot kept me interested and I didn't know where it would end up until the last second, which is pretty much a bonus.
Where this fell a bit flat for me was that I didn't feel like I got to know each character enough. I wasn't as invested as I would've liked to be and it was very easy to mix characters up, especially at the start.
Overall, if you're looking for a lit-fic type of thriller, this may be your jam!
➛ 𝟑 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐬
November 17, 2025
If you’re a fan of The Slap… congratulations, this is absolutely your brand of domestic chaos. If you enjoy unlikeable protagonists, then pull up a camping chair because you’re in for a treat.
I always try to find at least one redeeming feature in every character I meet (real or fictional). Reader, I tried. I failed. Maybe the children were okay… though half the time I couldn’t remember which ones belonged to whom. There are a lot of POVs in this book. I ignored the kids (except Stella) entirely, and focused solely on who was married to whom. Much simpler. Much juicier.
And yet… I kept reading. There’s an early plot point that hooked me despite myself, and this being my first Kate Mildenhall, I must admit: I thoroughly enjoyed hating it. In the best, most compulsive, “oh go on then, one more chapter” way. The ending? I’m not going to soil it but I loved it (you’ll get that clever little joke if you’ve read it). It made dealing with the characters completely worth it.
It took me a while to post this review. I had to sit with the story. I thought I didn’t like the book but it was the characters I didn’t like. I enjoyed the way Mildenhall rolled out her story. I was hooked even though I was appalled at myself for caring what happened to these characters. That’s some writing chops right there.
A thorny, messy, utterly human story, perfect for readers who don’t need to like characters in order to be entertained by their terrible decisions.
Thanks to @simonschusterau @scribneraus @tandemcollectiveglobal @kmildenhall for sending me a copy of this book to read along and review.
January 17, 2026
From me, it’s 3.5 Stars for this drama filled friendship/family story from Kate Midenhall. I enjoyed the quintessential Aussie bush setting and authentic character dialogue. I have to say, the concept of an idyllic communal getaway spot shared between family or close friends is an idea I’ve considered often myself…. I’m happy to have read this first now… my sense of consequence has been heightened somewhat and I probably won’t be rushing in to anything without a whole lot more thought! 😆
Despite a bit of page skipping through (in my opinion) unnecessarily explicit sex and a graphic animal slaughter scene, I really liked this book.
I’d happily try another of Midenhall‘s novels.
Despite a bit of page skipping through (in my opinion) unnecessarily explicit sex and a graphic animal slaughter scene, I really liked this book.
I’d happily try another of Midenhall‘s novels.
January 12, 2026
Pro tip: don't go camping, accidently kill a man over a property line dispute and try to hide it. Someone is always watching.
The drama! The tension! The marriage betrayals! The murder of it all! The unravelling!
Kate knows how to write a twisty, fast paced novel.
The drama! The tension! The marriage betrayals! The murder of it all! The unravelling!
Kate knows how to write a twisty, fast paced novel.
November 3, 2025
This book was a journey. It starts with 4 families who have all pitched in together to purchase a large parcel of river land in an old mining town as a weekender to go camping together. It has one run down pub with no working toilets. The whole book takes place on their first weekend away.
It had it all. Told from multiple points of view (at least one from each family) it was confusing to begin. With siblings Lou and Ness, their Mum, their best friends Josie and Flick, plus partners and multiple kids, as well as the neighbour and squatters, I really struggled to keep track of who was who. There was also at least 6 different characters who narrated throughout so it was a little confusing, especially in the first half. But once I figured out the dynamics and how everyone knew each other it became easier. There was certainly a lot of action to keep the pages turning including car crashes, infidelity, poisonings, missing persons, manslaughter, cover ups, animal shootings, historical death, kids going missing. Everyone also had a secret they were keeping from their partner or the group going into the weekend and none of the characters were very likeable.
For a book with some serious topics, it was written in a light-hearted, almost comical way which I really enjoyed. But the ending didn't wrap it all up and I was left questioning some of the storylines, especially Josie's. It was an interesting read, reflecting on how seemingly "good" people justify abhorrent decisions.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
It had it all. Told from multiple points of view (at least one from each family) it was confusing to begin. With siblings Lou and Ness, their Mum, their best friends Josie and Flick, plus partners and multiple kids, as well as the neighbour and squatters, I really struggled to keep track of who was who. There was also at least 6 different characters who narrated throughout so it was a little confusing, especially in the first half. But once I figured out the dynamics and how everyone knew each other it became easier. There was certainly a lot of action to keep the pages turning including car crashes, infidelity, poisonings, missing persons, manslaughter, cover ups, animal shootings, historical death, kids going missing. Everyone also had a secret they were keeping from their partner or the group going into the weekend and none of the characters were very likeable.
For a book with some serious topics, it was written in a light-hearted, almost comical way which I really enjoyed. But the ending didn't wrap it all up and I was left questioning some of the storylines, especially Josie's. It was an interesting read, reflecting on how seemingly "good" people justify abhorrent decisions.
Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with this ARC through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
November 6, 2025
Australia noir, but make it out of the outback for a change. A group of friends, lovely lives, long-held friendships, an easy familiarity with each other, band together to buy a property - a chance for them to take holidays there, to disconnect from city life, and for the kids to run wild. The first weekend out there starts badly - a wild deer causes an accident, there are squatters living on the property down by the river, the surveying and hence the fence line is incorrect, greatly annoying the curmudgeonly neighbour, and most annoying of all, by the end of the first day, someone is dead. From then, a spiral of coping mechanisms, uncovering of secrets, and fracturing of lives occurs at increasing pace, all culminate in a end of weekend talent show - in which everyones’ talents are on display, willingly or not. Covering everything from marriage, to the hypocrisy of adults, to the violence of rural life, this novel, written in chapters from each main character’s point of view, shows that despite what Whitney Houston said, if you teach the children well and let them lead the way, it may not work out that well for you.
January 5, 2026
4.5*
what a fantastic start to the year- I loved Mildenhall's writing style and I'm super keen to read more! the thriller aspect of this book was interwoven with some great characterisation, with all of the friends and family members flawed and interesting.
what a fantastic start to the year- I loved Mildenhall's writing style and I'm super keen to read more! the thriller aspect of this book was interwoven with some great characterisation, with all of the friends and family members flawed and interesting.
December 24, 2025
Fast paced with a plethora of unlikeable characters.
October 19, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 3.5 Stars
“They’re good people. Why shouldn’t they get what they deserve?”
When Lou spots an ad for an abandoned mining town up for sale, she convinces her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property—somewhere to escape on weekends, reconnect with nature, and unstick the kids from their screens. But before they’ve even arrived, trouble brews: a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour takes issue with their fence line, and squatters have moved in by the river. By the end of the first night, someone will be dead—and soon the tangled web of lies, betrayals, and buried secrets will begin to surface.
If the premise sounds familiar—friends gathered together, fractured by secrets—Kate Mildenhall’s execution gives it a distinct Australian edge. Her writing is strongest when she lingers on the setting: the creak of the bush, the shimmer of the river, the claustrophobia of heat and guilt. The tension builds slowly, not with twists and shocks, but with the quiet dread of people unravelling. The story moves at a dawdling pace, much like the river the characters love to swim in—steady, reflective, but occasionally stagnant.
While I admired Mildenhall’s descriptive prose, the dialogue sometimes felt dated and forced. Phrases like “righto,” “bush dunny,” and “meet the bloke” jarred with the otherwise modern tone; few Australians under sixty speak that way anymore. The explicit lesbian sex scene also felt misplaced and unnecessarily crude, adding shock value rather than depth.
The ending, too, felt rushed and muddled—Stella’s motivations weren’t clearly communicated, and some subplots (particularly the drug storyline) added little. Most of the adults were deeply unlikeable, with only Marnie and the children offering any real warmth or sanity.
Despite this, The Hiding Place captures the quiet menace of secrets festering beneath a sun-bleached surface. It’s an easy, atmospheric read that reflects on privilege, guilt, and the ways good people justify bad choices.
Thank you to Kate Mildenhall, Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC.
“They’re good people. Why shouldn’t they get what they deserve?”
When Lou spots an ad for an abandoned mining town up for sale, she convinces her sister and their oldest friends to go in on the idyllic property—somewhere to escape on weekends, reconnect with nature, and unstick the kids from their screens. But before they’ve even arrived, trouble brews: a rogue deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour takes issue with their fence line, and squatters have moved in by the river. By the end of the first night, someone will be dead—and soon the tangled web of lies, betrayals, and buried secrets will begin to surface.
If the premise sounds familiar—friends gathered together, fractured by secrets—Kate Mildenhall’s execution gives it a distinct Australian edge. Her writing is strongest when she lingers on the setting: the creak of the bush, the shimmer of the river, the claustrophobia of heat and guilt. The tension builds slowly, not with twists and shocks, but with the quiet dread of people unravelling. The story moves at a dawdling pace, much like the river the characters love to swim in—steady, reflective, but occasionally stagnant.
While I admired Mildenhall’s descriptive prose, the dialogue sometimes felt dated and forced. Phrases like “righto,” “bush dunny,” and “meet the bloke” jarred with the otherwise modern tone; few Australians under sixty speak that way anymore. The explicit lesbian sex scene also felt misplaced and unnecessarily crude, adding shock value rather than depth.
The ending, too, felt rushed and muddled—Stella’s motivations weren’t clearly communicated, and some subplots (particularly the drug storyline) added little. Most of the adults were deeply unlikeable, with only Marnie and the children offering any real warmth or sanity.
Despite this, The Hiding Place captures the quiet menace of secrets festering beneath a sun-bleached surface. It’s an easy, atmospheric read that reflects on privilege, guilt, and the ways good people justify bad choices.
Thank you to Kate Mildenhall, Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC.
August 4, 2025
'Bodies disappear out here.'
This was a fantastically crafted thriller, full of twists and turns and thought provoking questions. What I especially loved about this one is that even at the start of the novel, things are not alright. Everything is fragile but still managing to function, and it doesn't take much to bring everything crashing down.
There are multiple POVs through this book, and while at the start of the book I was worried it was going to be overwhelming, all the voices are distinct and easy to differentiate. I especially loved the bonds of friendship that the characters shared, despite all the tension and the awful events happening. It seemed so realistic, and you could see how the characters kept tangling themselves in knots trying to protect one another.
I love that the wildness of the Australian landscape is front and centre in this book, and it even serves as its own character - wild, claustrophobic, menacing. The discussion of land rights and how nature can be weaponised felt very timely, and really helped to immerse me as the reader into the story.
If you're looking for a thriller read, definitely consider giving this book a try! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
This was a fantastically crafted thriller, full of twists and turns and thought provoking questions. What I especially loved about this one is that even at the start of the novel, things are not alright. Everything is fragile but still managing to function, and it doesn't take much to bring everything crashing down.
There are multiple POVs through this book, and while at the start of the book I was worried it was going to be overwhelming, all the voices are distinct and easy to differentiate. I especially loved the bonds of friendship that the characters shared, despite all the tension and the awful events happening. It seemed so realistic, and you could see how the characters kept tangling themselves in knots trying to protect one another.
I love that the wildness of the Australian landscape is front and centre in this book, and it even serves as its own character - wild, claustrophobic, menacing. The discussion of land rights and how nature can be weaponised felt very timely, and really helped to immerse me as the reader into the story.
If you're looking for a thriller read, definitely consider giving this book a try! Thank you so much to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 27, 2025
Kate Mildenhall is a wonderful Australian writer who writes across historical fiction, dystopian and mystery/thriller genres. Her latest book The Hiding Place was a literary thriller which I lapped up.
In it a group of friends that have camped together over decades all pitch in to buy an isolated abandoned mining town in the bush. Couples, kids and a grandma descend one weekend for their first visit and a working bee to kick off their ownership. The dynamic is a little different this time with one couple divorced, kids growing up and a few little secrets and fears bubbling under the surface. And things start going wrong almost immediately culminating in a dead body on night one. For the characters involved on that first night hiding the body seems like a breeze compared to some of the other issues being left unspoken across the group.
On the one hand this was a book about the dynamics of a group of long-time friends as their lives evolve and change and on the other it was an outrageously ridiculous series of events involving dead bodies, lies, deception, affairs and an insane ending!
For a book with a dead body at its centre this was actually kind of funny in an OMG I can’t look away from this it is so outrageous kind of way. It was a page turner. The characters felt real and the tension was too. Watching mostly good people justify bad choices made for an intriguing read.
I liked the way Mildenhall described the landscape. The bush setting gave opportunities for discussions of ownership of land and environmental issues but wasn’t heavy handed.
I also love that the author was inspired by her real-life camping friends to write this story. I hope that her friends do not see themselves in this story!! Might make for an awkward next camping trip. Overall I enjoyed myself reading this thriller that does not take itself too seriously.
Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterau for my #gifted copy.
In it a group of friends that have camped together over decades all pitch in to buy an isolated abandoned mining town in the bush. Couples, kids and a grandma descend one weekend for their first visit and a working bee to kick off their ownership. The dynamic is a little different this time with one couple divorced, kids growing up and a few little secrets and fears bubbling under the surface. And things start going wrong almost immediately culminating in a dead body on night one. For the characters involved on that first night hiding the body seems like a breeze compared to some of the other issues being left unspoken across the group.
On the one hand this was a book about the dynamics of a group of long-time friends as their lives evolve and change and on the other it was an outrageously ridiculous series of events involving dead bodies, lies, deception, affairs and an insane ending!
For a book with a dead body at its centre this was actually kind of funny in an OMG I can’t look away from this it is so outrageous kind of way. It was a page turner. The characters felt real and the tension was too. Watching mostly good people justify bad choices made for an intriguing read.
I liked the way Mildenhall described the landscape. The bush setting gave opportunities for discussions of ownership of land and environmental issues but wasn’t heavy handed.
I also love that the author was inspired by her real-life camping friends to write this story. I hope that her friends do not see themselves in this story!! Might make for an awkward next camping trip. Overall I enjoyed myself reading this thriller that does not take itself too seriously.
Thank you @netgalley and @simonschusterau for my #gifted copy.
November 10, 2025
A once in a life time opportunity presents its self when Lou comes across an old secluded mining town for sale. It would be the perfect location for her friends and sister to take their families to holiday and create a legacy
They pack up their kids and caravans to make the journey for the inaugural first stay on the property, with big plans and nature at their footsteps this will be the tree change they have all needed
However before they even arrive disaster occurs and they almost loose a caravan thanks to a wayward deer. This introduces them to their new neighbours who live almost too close for comfort.
Has this purchase been the right choice? They all know each other well enough to survive any obstacle, but when someone ends up dead, will these friendships survive
The backdrop plays such an important part in the story and feels so real and eerie I felt I was in Willows Creek.
With the ultimate Aussie dream of a tree change at the forefront of the story, it provides an realistic premise and is even more haunting as things begin to fall apart
Filled with multiple POVs, secrets and short sharp chapters, this dark literary thriller will keep you hooked in until the epic conclusion
I absolutely devoured this fab story! Needing to know all the secrets. The friendships bring such depth but show you never really know someone!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for my gifted review copy
They pack up their kids and caravans to make the journey for the inaugural first stay on the property, with big plans and nature at their footsteps this will be the tree change they have all needed
However before they even arrive disaster occurs and they almost loose a caravan thanks to a wayward deer. This introduces them to their new neighbours who live almost too close for comfort.
Has this purchase been the right choice? They all know each other well enough to survive any obstacle, but when someone ends up dead, will these friendships survive
The backdrop plays such an important part in the story and feels so real and eerie I felt I was in Willows Creek.
With the ultimate Aussie dream of a tree change at the forefront of the story, it provides an realistic premise and is even more haunting as things begin to fall apart
Filled with multiple POVs, secrets and short sharp chapters, this dark literary thriller will keep you hooked in until the epic conclusion
I absolutely devoured this fab story! Needing to know all the secrets. The friendships bring such depth but show you never really know someone!
Thank you Simon and Schuster for my gifted review copy
October 13, 2025
bold / unputdownable / ripped through
November 24, 2025
a most anticipated read that didn’t hit as hard for me as mildenhall’s other works unfortunately, still, a great premise and was lots of fun to read!
November 25, 2025
I dnf this :<
December 24, 2025
I listened to the Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall via audiobook through Libro FM.
If you’re a lover of books with messy characters, tricky dynamics between friendship groups, secrets and lies then this book is one you’ll likely enjoy. A friendship group purchase a rural property together with the intentions of spending time together away from the rat race and building a legacy for their children. On a weekend soon after the property settles, their apparently cosy dynamic unravels rather spectacularly.
This is a reasonably fast moving book (though not I listened on 1.9x the speed) but there are chapters with multiple characters points of view to keep up with and variable relationships amongst the group. This is a book where there is a spectacular finish - definitely bang for your buck.
An interesting part of this was the tying of all the details together and the reader remembers this is a story within a story, being discussed by a couple of the locals. Pretty effective when I think about it.
If you’re a lover of books with messy characters, tricky dynamics between friendship groups, secrets and lies then this book is one you’ll likely enjoy. A friendship group purchase a rural property together with the intentions of spending time together away from the rat race and building a legacy for their children. On a weekend soon after the property settles, their apparently cosy dynamic unravels rather spectacularly.
This is a reasonably fast moving book (though not I listened on 1.9x the speed) but there are chapters with multiple characters points of view to keep up with and variable relationships amongst the group. This is a book where there is a spectacular finish - definitely bang for your buck.
An interesting part of this was the tying of all the details together and the reader remembers this is a story within a story, being discussed by a couple of the locals. Pretty effective when I think about it.
November 13, 2025
Similar to a very recent book by Holly wainwright. I'm sure they wrote them at the same time rather than copied! Anyway entitled unlikeable characters .. didn't enjoy it.
December 2, 2025
Highly blurbed by well known authors, and on some best 10 lists for the year. It is compared to Don’s Party (an Australian play) and The Slap (by Christos Tsoliakis) and has some similar elements, with a group of friends depicted in ways that highlight current urban professional class fashions in Australia (and recognizable elsewhere). It also sets up their distinct characteristics, and relationships both as old friends and also as harbouring various histories, attractions and resentments. Also, like The Slap, it has a cast of kids who take some part in the action, including an older teenager who videos some vital evidence. But the writing and dilemmas are not as vivid or original as in that earlier book, rather more of the quality of a mini series in the mode of Liane Moriarty.
The action begins when an old group of friends have bought a property in the countryside and are going there for the first time to do some work on it. We see in turn various characters’ perspectives and the roles they are cast into – organizing mum, man who resents not getting enough credit, wife who has had a recent fling with one of the other men present, etc. There is also a well-drawn account of the ways locals see people like these: claim to be getting back to nature, but want most of the mod cons, and bring down their own food rather than spending locally, etc.. Early in the weekend there is a tussle and an accidental death of an unpleasant neighbour, and the decision by the three people present to try to hide it because of the downside effects its exposure would have on many others present. I enjoyed the book, and did find it a page-turner.
The action begins when an old group of friends have bought a property in the countryside and are going there for the first time to do some work on it. We see in turn various characters’ perspectives and the roles they are cast into – organizing mum, man who resents not getting enough credit, wife who has had a recent fling with one of the other men present, etc. There is also a well-drawn account of the ways locals see people like these: claim to be getting back to nature, but want most of the mod cons, and bring down their own food rather than spending locally, etc.. Early in the weekend there is a tussle and an accidental death of an unpleasant neighbour, and the decision by the three people present to try to hide it because of the downside effects its exposure would have on many others present. I enjoyed the book, and did find it a page-turner.
November 10, 2025
'Things are getting loose. As they tend to do by eleven when they're all together'
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We know how things get when we are together with our friends, around a fire, with a few drinks and camp food.
But what happens when it all goes wrong? When something so big implodes?
Bloody hell, this book builds and builds.
With multiple pov's and a cast of characters that really seem like a group of friends at the end of their tether, this read builds suspense like a meandering creek, until it bursts from the connected river into a white wash of smashing waves.
Friendship, love, family, betrayal, secrets, and fears. It's all here.
Dark, atmospheric, suspenseful, and oozing in real-life scenarios.
Because, let's face it, there are so many secrets between friends that all of this is plausible.
The author has developed the cast into a group of somewhat unlikeable people (I'm talking about you Phil!), with their attitudes, secrets, and selfish wants, and at the same time, given us a delicious look into other people's lives.
The build-up is gradual, and the setting of Willow's Creek is earthy and fresh. You question their decisions, you shake your head at the choices, and you think you know how it will all end.
But you don't.
Those last few chapters, that crazy tension building, and then bam! Stella has given them all something to digest. It was fabulous 👌
Yep, this is a bloody good read that delivers.
Needless to say, I am NOT going shares in a property. 😅
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We know how things get when we are together with our friends, around a fire, with a few drinks and camp food.
But what happens when it all goes wrong? When something so big implodes?
Bloody hell, this book builds and builds.
With multiple pov's and a cast of characters that really seem like a group of friends at the end of their tether, this read builds suspense like a meandering creek, until it bursts from the connected river into a white wash of smashing waves.
Friendship, love, family, betrayal, secrets, and fears. It's all here.
Dark, atmospheric, suspenseful, and oozing in real-life scenarios.
Because, let's face it, there are so many secrets between friends that all of this is plausible.
The author has developed the cast into a group of somewhat unlikeable people (I'm talking about you Phil!), with their attitudes, secrets, and selfish wants, and at the same time, given us a delicious look into other people's lives.
The build-up is gradual, and the setting of Willow's Creek is earthy and fresh. You question their decisions, you shake your head at the choices, and you think you know how it will all end.
But you don't.
Those last few chapters, that crazy tension building, and then bam! Stella has given them all something to digest. It was fabulous 👌
Yep, this is a bloody good read that delivers.
Needless to say, I am NOT going shares in a property. 😅
November 21, 2025
A masterfully written thriller!
Kate's use of short chapters, and multiple POV allowed for the pace of this novel to be swift, and really kept you turning the pages to see whose perspective we were going to get next, and what fresh chaos we'd see unravelling before their eyes.
An excellent character study. Highlighting unchecked privileges, the way a person's true nature is revealed when they're faced with complicated scenarios and no one is watching, or so they think, and whether you can go back to the person you were, once you've crossed a line.
These characters were written so well that it was impossible not to want to grab them by the shoulders, and shake them until they snapped back into reality, common sense finally appeared in their minds, and their actions started to align with that good nature they kept saying they possess.
The events occurring over three days worked wonderfully as the foundation for a three act structure, which helped to beautifully draw the chaos and ugliness that hides underneath long standing relationships, when found in a new environment, to the forefront of this narrative, and leave the reader feeling the highs and lows of the characters weekend from hell. Two big twists in the final act (Sunday) I did not see, or think possible, completely shocked me!
Should aim to be read over three days for the full effect.
I have no doubt that this will be brilliantly adapted into a film or tv series!
Kate's use of short chapters, and multiple POV allowed for the pace of this novel to be swift, and really kept you turning the pages to see whose perspective we were going to get next, and what fresh chaos we'd see unravelling before their eyes.
An excellent character study. Highlighting unchecked privileges, the way a person's true nature is revealed when they're faced with complicated scenarios and no one is watching, or so they think, and whether you can go back to the person you were, once you've crossed a line.
These characters were written so well that it was impossible not to want to grab them by the shoulders, and shake them until they snapped back into reality, common sense finally appeared in their minds, and their actions started to align with that good nature they kept saying they possess.
The events occurring over three days worked wonderfully as the foundation for a three act structure, which helped to beautifully draw the chaos and ugliness that hides underneath long standing relationships, when found in a new environment, to the forefront of this narrative, and leave the reader feeling the highs and lows of the characters weekend from hell. Two big twists in the final act (Sunday) I did not see, or think possible, completely shocked me!
Should aim to be read over three days for the full effect.
I have no doubt that this will be brilliantly adapted into a film or tv series!
September 14, 2025
Four families have bought a long-abandoned mining town in the Australian bush. Lou saw the ad and convinced family and friends that purchasing it was a good idea: a return to nature, and a way to disengage kids from their screens.
Except … nothing goes according to plan. A deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line, and there is a family of squatters camping by the river. If you were looking for omens, you might be alarmed. And, by the end of the first night, someone is dead. But hey, hiding a body in the bush should be easy, right? The story unfolds through multiple points of view, with almost everyone having something to hide. I kept reading, trying to decide which one of these entitled self-righteous fools was the most deluded or the most despicable.
But in the end, it really did not matter: every action has consequences.
While I didn’t care much more for most of the people in this novel, I enjoyed Ms Mildenhall’s descriptions of place and nature. If you are looking for a thriller that steps outside the usual genre boundaries, then I can certainly recommend this novel.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Except … nothing goes according to plan. A deer sends a trailer off the road, a neighbour complains about the fence line, and there is a family of squatters camping by the river. If you were looking for omens, you might be alarmed. And, by the end of the first night, someone is dead. But hey, hiding a body in the bush should be easy, right? The story unfolds through multiple points of view, with almost everyone having something to hide. I kept reading, trying to decide which one of these entitled self-righteous fools was the most deluded or the most despicable.
But in the end, it really did not matter: every action has consequences.
While I didn’t care much more for most of the people in this novel, I enjoyed Ms Mildenhall’s descriptions of place and nature. If you are looking for a thriller that steps outside the usual genre boundaries, then I can certainly recommend this novel.
Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Australia for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
January 12, 2026
I would describe the Hiding Place as a satirical thriller - a novel swirling with dirty secrets, a gruesome death and recurrent appearances of a sickening talisman: a massive deer with a grossly misshapen head. A group of friends have just bought a mining town, intending to use it for 'connection and rejuvenation' with earnest intentions to repair and restore the degraded land. It takes no time at all for cracks to show in the gentrified veneer of these left-leaning city folk. The shocking death occurs the same evening of their arrival for a work bee and bonding weekend. To me, the three members who are privy to what happened seem naively quick to agree on a coverup strategy, and the way they go about their weekend activities seems all too nonchalant considering what they have just witnessed.
From the get-go I found myself struggling to like any members of the four families apart from the teenager Stella, who has a sort of Greek chorus role in the messy weekend. I also warmed to the down-to-earth couple and their son who are camping on the property as well as Wendy and Sal in the grocery store scenes that delightfully frame the novel.
The Hiding Place is fast-paced, intertwined with dizzying sub-plots and frequent scenes of people stripping off their clothes and jumping into the river. Symbolic of cleansing their sins away? Maybe.
From the get-go I found myself struggling to like any members of the four families apart from the teenager Stella, who has a sort of Greek chorus role in the messy weekend. I also warmed to the down-to-earth couple and their son who are camping on the property as well as Wendy and Sal in the grocery store scenes that delightfully frame the novel.
The Hiding Place is fast-paced, intertwined with dizzying sub-plots and frequent scenes of people stripping off their clothes and jumping into the river. Symbolic of cleansing their sins away? Maybe.
January 23, 2026
This is a really absorbing story that straddles the divide between family drama and crime novel with adroitness. The plot isn’t so much a puzzle as a waiting game – when is it all going to come toppling down? – and the characterisations are sharp and strong.
This is an atmospheric novel with a relatively straightforward plot. However, the relationships and the secrets are tangled and complex and informed by a great deal of history between the characters. It’s very believable, although I’m pretty sure that most groups actually include at least one boring person who’s an open book. Not here!
I felt that letting the relationships be the complex centre of the novel – rather than a crime puzzle – is what makes this work so well. The secrets are the believable sort that people harbour every day, and although some will appall you, it’s also kinda easy to empathise with them. Maybe, in the right circumstances, you could find yourself with a similar secret.
I liked the ending a great deal: somehow both inevitable and unexpected, it hits exactly the right note.
Highly recommended for readers looking for something that doesn’t necessarily fit neatly into one genre, for character centred stories, or for something that’s just absorbing and entertaining.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
This is an atmospheric novel with a relatively straightforward plot. However, the relationships and the secrets are tangled and complex and informed by a great deal of history between the characters. It’s very believable, although I’m pretty sure that most groups actually include at least one boring person who’s an open book. Not here!
I felt that letting the relationships be the complex centre of the novel – rather than a crime puzzle – is what makes this work so well. The secrets are the believable sort that people harbour every day, and although some will appall you, it’s also kinda easy to empathise with them. Maybe, in the right circumstances, you could find yourself with a similar secret.
I liked the ending a great deal: somehow both inevitable and unexpected, it hits exactly the right note.
Highly recommended for readers looking for something that doesn’t necessarily fit neatly into one genre, for character centred stories, or for something that’s just absorbing and entertaining.
If you enjoyed this review, please visit www.otherdreamsotherlives.home.blog to read more.
September 27, 2025
Thank you Better Reading for an Advance Reader Copy of The Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall. I'm sure most of us have had that "what if" thought about buying shares with family and/or friends in properties for getaway experiences. I'm not too sure I would do that now, seeing everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, plus more. I was concerned at first that there were too many characters and points of view, but it did work out for me. I would have liked a bit more character background, as they sometimes felt one dimensional. Loved the Aussie setting and occasional ockerisms. Phil was my favourite character through all his experiences, and Josie's little "side trip" was so well written that I almost felt myself "tripping" with her. I thought the progression of the story worked really well, and starting and ending with the General Store and local gossip were great "bookends." Extra points for the topical mushroom references. If I'd had the time to read it in one sitting instead of three, I would have devoured it. I'd give a 4/5 star review. It would make a great movie or 6 part series.
September 27, 2025
As the new owners of an abandoned property in the bush, gather for their first weekend at Willow Creek, they cannot imagine what the next two days will bring. This is a group of friends with a long history together, and with a variety of ideas of what the property will bring to their lives. It is a slow building thriller with a rather confronting twist on the first night of the weekend, and by the time they reach Sunday afternoon most of their secrets are about to be revealed in a very public way.
The characters are all interesting, and tension builds between them as the weekend progresses and secrets are both shared, hidden, and discovered. Fifteen year old Stella has her own ulterior motive for the weekend, and quietly moves among the adults observing their antics, as well as befriending Aiden, a young hunter whose parents are camped by the creek.
I’m sure many people have considered purchasing a holiday property with friends and family, but once you read The Hiding Place that idea may remain and idea. The story kept me engaged right to the end and I would highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Better Reading for a copy to review.
The characters are all interesting, and tension builds between them as the weekend progresses and secrets are both shared, hidden, and discovered. Fifteen year old Stella has her own ulterior motive for the weekend, and quietly moves among the adults observing their antics, as well as befriending Aiden, a young hunter whose parents are camped by the creek.
I’m sure many people have considered purchasing a holiday property with friends and family, but once you read The Hiding Place that idea may remain and idea. The story kept me engaged right to the end and I would highly recommend this book.
Thanks to Better Reading for a copy to review.
November 7, 2025
The Hiding Place by Kate Mildenhall
A group of friends and their families buy an old piece of land in the bush, hoping for peace, freedom, and a simple life close to nature. They imagine it as their own little paradise — a place to relax and feel happy again.
But things start to go wrong from the beginning. A deer accident causes trouble, the locals aren’t friendly, and soon, someone dies. Instead of telling the truth, they decide to hide the body — and that choice changes everything.
At first, I thought the story was just about friends wanting to spend time in nature. But it quickly turns dark and shows how people can change when things go wrong.
The book shows how even good people can make bad choices when they try to hide the truth. Some parts were a bit hard to follow, but I liked how it showed guilt, friendship, and fear. It made me think about how far people will go to protect themselves.
By the end, I realised that “good people” can do terrible things when they believe they deserve happiness and freedom — but they end up hurting themselves because they can’t face the truth.
A weekend escape that turned into a nightmare!
A group of friends and their families buy an old piece of land in the bush, hoping for peace, freedom, and a simple life close to nature. They imagine it as their own little paradise — a place to relax and feel happy again.
But things start to go wrong from the beginning. A deer accident causes trouble, the locals aren’t friendly, and soon, someone dies. Instead of telling the truth, they decide to hide the body — and that choice changes everything.
At first, I thought the story was just about friends wanting to spend time in nature. But it quickly turns dark and shows how people can change when things go wrong.
The book shows how even good people can make bad choices when they try to hide the truth. Some parts were a bit hard to follow, but I liked how it showed guilt, friendship, and fear. It made me think about how far people will go to protect themselves.
By the end, I realised that “good people” can do terrible things when they believe they deserve happiness and freedom — but they end up hurting themselves because they can’t face the truth.
A weekend escape that turned into a nightmare!
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